Week 24 Review

Bayley take massive step, Meole bounce back, Wrockites earn big win

Sir John Bayley took a massive step towards winning their first Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League title as they hammered Burway 13-1 to move 13 points clear in week 24 of the league. Captain Spencer Clarke called it “an excellent result which keeps us firmly in pole position. It was a good match and the lads played well and thankfully for us the close games went our way, but Burway played much better than the scoreline suggests. The best match of the night was between Paul Reeves and Kiah Roberts, which was top class from both players. A very pleasing result in our last home game.” Norman Harvey was best winner 5 with Alex Jones gaining MVP for his 12 win. For Burway, Mark Rogers was the only winner 13, earning himself MVP. Meole Brace have moved into 2nd place after beating previous 2nd placed team Chester Road 12-2. Only their county players Martin Lloyd and Andy Moss were their winners, with the latter winning 11 to be best winner and MVP. Meole skipper Mark Thomas commented on “a strong performance from us. Colin Beaman and Julian Cooke came back in and both played well (Colin best winner 8). Pete Bound had a very good game against Ian MacDonald in the first four and him winning from 15-11 down gave us the belief we seemed to have been lacking the last few weeks. It puts us back in it, but there would have to be major slip ups for us to win the league.” MVP for Meole Brace was Ade Rowe who won 17.

Any title thoughts for Castlefields are over after they scored just 3 at Wrockwardine Wood, to continue their winless away run. Spokesman Steve Roberts commented “the team played really well 1 to 12 with some tough battles on the green. Two stand out performances was Mark Picknell against Rich Goddard (being best winner 6) and Mark Jones (who won 20 for MVP). Castlefields played well but a number of the home players had to come back from well down and eventually getting a win so really pleased with the result as a home team to take 11 points.”  Rob Jones added “a great team performance on a green that hasn’t been as good as all that all year. Tom Langford’s comeback from 14-3 down is worth a mention too in what was a great team performance.” For the Fields Andy Duckett and Adam Jones were best winners 14, with Andy was MVP. Ifton missed a chance to draw clear of Hanwood for the battle for the last Pool A space as they only beat Champions Newport 8-6, which Newport skipper Mark Selley described as “a bonus.” Kevin Nicholas was best winner for the home side 7 with Brian Hayes getting MVP for his 10 win. For the champions Chris Grocott was best winner 14 while Pete Farmer won MVP for winning 19.

Bylet moved a further point clear of bottom placed Hadley USC with a 9-5 win over Wem USC. Tom McGill was best winner 10 and captain Mick Harries got MVP for his 14 win. For the visitors Graham Dulson was best winner 9 and Scott Thomas got MVP for winning 14. Hadley USC beat the Bowring 8-6 to be 10 points adrift at the bottom. Dave Price was best winner 11 with John Newey gaining MVP for winning 12. For the visitors Dave Lloyd was best winner 11 and MVP went to former Huskie Jamie King for his 17 win.

So Sir John Bayley are 13 points clear of Meole Brace with just two games left. Hadley USC are 10 adrift of Bylet at the bottom with 3 games remaining. Andy Moss needs to win 1 of his last 2 to confirm winning the League Averages again while Stuart Rutter still leads by one MVP, but Andy Moss and Alex Jones have joined that group.